I'd like to buy a Toyota Yaris 1.3.
I've never had automatic cars until now, but I would like to try this one. Automatic transmission only costs € 600,00 but I'm not sure about its reliability.
I never resell cars, I use them until they work and then I withdraw them from service. This means I use them for 13-14 years and 150-180.000 Kms.

With proper care and maintenance, there is no reason why an automatic would not last as long as a manual. Toyota has had pretty good reliability with their automatics, compared to Honda, which has shit the bed with their automatics. My sister got over 130,000 miles with an automatic with her "inferior" Ford product. I as well have got plenty of mileage with automatics, in my 1.3 million mile driving experience.

Is there any reason that you are thinking that an automatic is less reliable? I was never aware of that being the case. It is a Toyota and they are usually bullet proof.

I would be concerned about the car's performance. Did you test drive an automatic? Usually acceleration decreases. And considering I have a lawn mower roughly the size of that car, I don't think I would want to put further strain on the engine.

Apart from the test drive mentioned by Aa757first, have you also compared the fuel consumption ? The difference in fuel consumption may make a bigger difference in Euros when calculated to 150.000 km driven.
-HT

Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !

As far as I'm aware, the MMT transmission isn't a 'real' automatic gearbox, but has some sort of 'computer controlled' clutch. I'm not an expert on these matters, but remember reading something about the MMT setup somewhere when I was looking to buy a car. Will post the link if I find it.

I like a manual shift because it makes driving more fun, but in most of the cars I have owned, new and used, and manual was not offered. The small cars I have had were manuals, but all the larger models were autos. Some automatics have a better reputation than others. Some of the best automatics ever made were GMTH-350 and TH-400, Chrysler 727, and Ford C-4 and C-6. Some of the worst were GMTH-2004R and Ford AOD, and anything Chrysler that was front wheel drive in the 80s and early 90s. Toyota autos are generally very good. Asin makes some great transmissions/transaxles that appear in a variety of Japanese cars.

Quoting Go3Team (Reply 1):With proper care and maintenance, there is no reason why an automatic would not last as long as a manual.

That is the big key. Follow the manufacturers instructions about service and you shouldn't have any trouble. Heat is a problem for automatics. For every 20 degrees F the temperature increases, past normal you cut the service life of the fluid in half. That is why the trans cooler is so important. When I see a dead automatic I usually see three things. Overloaded vehicile (usually a minivan), high miles and never serviced the trans, and wrong fluid. Back in the good old days there was just was two types of ATF, Type F which Ford used prior to 1977 along with many Japanese manufacturers and Type A, which eventually became Dexron III/Mercon. Now there are several brand specific fluids that you must use. For example if you use Dexron III/Mercon in a newer Ford you will have chatter and slippage under load. You need to use Mercon V. Don't put Mercon V in your Honda. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and you will have no problem.

Many people have some sort of superstition about changing trans fluid. They think it will screw things up. I think that comes from most people wait until they have a problem to change the fluid and by then it is too late. Also dropping the pan and changing the filter only gets half of the fluid (maybe even less on some models). You need to do a complete trans flush. You can take it to a shop and they charge you a bunch of money or you can do it in your driveway with a hose, a bucket, a case of ATF, and a funnel.

Manuals are not immune from fluid issues too. For years manuals always used some sort of gear lube like 85w90 or something similar. Today many use autotrans fluid. Always read the manual before putting fluid in a car you are unfamiliar with. The info is usually printed in the owners manual and on the dip stick. Many newer cars do not have a trans dip stick, there is a spot for it, but you will have to go to the dealer and buy it.

Quoting Go3Team (Reply 1):compared to Honda, which has shit the bed with their automatics.

Wow that reeks of quality. Care to provide numerous examples of Honda's and failing automatic transmissions? Recalls? Honda builds a damn good product as does Toyota.

Quoting Go3Team (Reply 1):My sister got over 130,000 miles with an automatic with her "inferior" Ford product.

My mother has roughly 100,000 miles with an automatic on her superior Honda Pilot. What's your point? Like it or not, Ford has a history, both long and short, of building junk compared to that of the Japanese.

Quoting JetsGo (Reply 12):My mother has roughly 100,000 miles with an automatic on her superior Honda Pilot. What's your point? Like it or not, Ford has a history, both long and short, of building junk compared to that of the Japanese.

I have 240,000 miles on my Mercedes Diesel with an automatic. 172,000 miles on my Honda Accord Automatic
I have had a dozen US cars with over 100,000 with autos. Like I said before it is all in how you take care of it. Hint, for older Chrysler minivans. When under heavy load, put in third gear, instead of overdrive. 3rd is direct drive and sure mileage will suffer, but costly repairs are less likely.

Quoting JetsGo (Reply 12):Ford has a history, both long and short, of building junk compared to that of the Japanese.

Their AXOD and AX4S automatics were never that good. The AXOD was starved for fluid from the day it was made. There are tricks in the rebuilding world to solve that problem.

Quoting F.pier (Thread starter):I never resell cars, I use them until they work and then I withdraw them from service. This means I use them for 13-14 years and 150-180.000 Kms.

Withdraw from service? What? Any car that runs is worth money. My parents sold the old 1985 Toyota Cressida (then 17 years old with 212,000 miles on it) for $950. Not bad.

Quoting Falstaff (Reply 13):Like I said before it is all in how you take care of it. Hint, for older Chrysler minivans. When under heavy load, put in third gear, instead of overdrive. 3rd is direct drive and sure mileage will suffer, but costly repairs are less likely.

A new transmission for a Grand Caravan is at 130,000 miles is unacceptable, in my book. And then replacing it twice more due to problems is incredible. Our van has 177,000 miles on it and it's on its fourth transmission.

Quoting MD-90 (Reply 14):A new transmission for a Grand Caravan is at 130,000 miles is unacceptable, in my book. And then replacing it twice more due to problems is incredible. Our van has 177,000 miles on it and it's on its fourth transmission

You are right that isn't acceptable, in today's world, but 30 years ago you would likely have never made it to 130,000 miles. Most front wheel drive minivans of all manufacturers have trans problems. Part of the issue is weight. Consumers want something that handles and drives like a car. Also they want to put in 7 people and a load of stuff. I used to do warranty analysis for Ford and most trans problems in minivans were associated with overloading. This is party because many manufacturers are cheap and do not develop transmissions that are specific for minivans. Ford and GM both had rear drive minivans that rarely had trans issues, but customers shunned those because they were too much like trucks.

Also we expect a lot from our cars today. In 1977 the average car on the US roads lasted 97,000 miles. Today it is 150,000. The demands for cost reduction, fuel economy, and emission control have forced manufacturers to use more expensive lighter weight materials that can have quality issues. Mercedes-Benz is a great example of a manufacturer who's products were once bullet proof, but today rank behind most everything else in terms of quality.

You would be amazed how many people complain when their Honda or Toyota break down. I once had a lady tell me that her Toyota couldn't need a heater core because Japanese cars never broke. I told her that the Toyota dealer has a service department for a reason. I have a good friend who is a service writer at a Honda dealer. He has to deal with customers daily who can't under stand why their Honda is in the shop. A man recently told him that if he knew that his Honda would need a timing belt at 103,000 miles he would have bought a Ford. I have never had a major engine/transmission problem with any vehicle I ever had, except those that were like that when I got them. I fix more American cars than Japanese cars, but that is only because there are so many American cars where I live. My buddy, Marty, has worked at foreign shops since 1977 and has never been short of work.

50 years ago you had to service a vehicle constantly. People remember everything that was great about classic cars and nothing that was bad.

F.pier, you COULD buy an automatic car but then you'd have to change your flag. No red blooded Italian male would be seen dead driving a car with an auto gearbox. And if you did, you'd be the only person in Italy with one, so it's resale value would be zero... next question...

Quoting BHXFAOTIPYYC (Reply 19):F.pier, you COULD buy an automatic car but then you'd have to change your flag. No red blooded Italian male would be seen dead driving a car with an auto gearbox. And if you did, you'd be the only person in Italy with one, so it's resale value would be zero... next question...

I'm really not interested in ehat other Italians do. I can choose the transmission I prefer.
Above all (even before Italian) I'm European, so there's no problem buying automatic.

Cars have to pass strict safety checks every couple of years (maybe every year?) in most European countries. Many of the beaters you see on North American roads would simply not be allowed in most of western Europe.

To be honest I don't see much sense in buying automatic for a small car, unless you are some "dumb blonde" incapable to use a stick. If you intend to keep the car for such a long time I'd probably think about paying more for the 1.4 D4-D diesel instead of wasting money on automatic.
Looking on technical specs. the automatic transmission basically kills any advantage in performance the 1.3 has over the 1.0.

Quoting VonRichtofen (Reply 16):Every American car company does, not just Ford. In fact, Ford is probably the best of the US auto makers, especially with their European models. GM is garbage.

Just because it is a Japanese car doesn't mean it is great. 87-89 Mazda 626 had loads of tranny trouble. Toyota recently had a PCV issue, which caused lots of sludge and resulted in dead engines and lots of angry customers. Ford used Yamaha engines in its Taurus SHO models and that engine loved to throw timing chain sprockets. I am not saying US cars are the best. But everyone builds a stinker every now and then. I have a Honda, Dodge, Mercedes, and a Chevrolet. 172,000, 21,000, 241,000, and ??? miles for those cars. Everyone can and does build a good car. Some are just better than others. If we went back in time an looked at 1950s cars in a modern perspective we would find they were very unreliable and VERY unsafe.

Quoting L410Turbolet (Reply 22):To be honest I don't see much sense in buying automatic for a small car, unless you are some "dumb blonde" incapable to use a stick. If you intend to keep the car for such a long time I'd probably think about paying more for the 1.4 D4-D diesel instead of wasting money on automatic.
Looking on technical specs. the automatic transmission basically kills any advantage in performance the 1.3 has over the 1.0.

I don't think environmental rules will allow diesel car to be used for more than 10 years...